NiJaree Canady is good enough to carry a team to the Women’s College World Series. Just ask Stanford softball.
The right-handed junior pitcher helped guide the Cardinal to the WCWS in each of her first two collegiate seasons in 2023 and 2024. However, following the 2024 season in which Stanford fell short of the WCWS final in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for a second straight year, Canady decided to transfer.
Her decision to enter the portal was a shocker — as was the reigning USA Softball National Player of the Year’s decision to transfer to Texas Tech over college softball powers such as Oklahoma, Texas and UCLA.
Canady has been a key cog for the Red Raiders during their 2025 softball season. Texas Tech (45-12) won the Big 12 regular season title and then followed it up with a dominant run, outscoring opponents 26-0 in three conference tournament games en route to their first conference tournament title.
Canady was her usual dominant self in 2025, boasting a 26-5 record, five shutouts, a 0.81 ERA and 263 strikeouts in 181 innings. In the Big 12 tournament, she stepped it up a notch by not allowing a run in 16 2/3 innings while striking out 26 batters. She earned Most Outstanding Player honors for the tournament.
The Red Raiders earned the No. 12 seed and will host the Lubbock Regional starting Friday against Brown. If Canady can keep up her pitching, they have a chance to make a run.
Here’s what you need to know about why Canady transferred from Stanford to Texas Tech, along with her stats:
Why did NiJaree Canady transfer from Stanford to Texas Tech?
Canady got paid handsomely to transfer from Stanford to Texas Tech: a one-year, $1.05 MILLION NIL contract.
While the record-breaking NIL deal speaks volumes to her talents as a pitcher, Canady also wanted another assurance when it came to her next destination: a chance to be a hitter. During her two seasons with the Cardinal, she got just 35 plate appearances and blasted two home runs. Canady hit .530 with 42 RBIs in her senior season at Topeka High School as a senior.
“She wants to hit,” her manager, Derrick Shelby, of Prestige Management Group, told the Lubbock Avalanche in February. “That was so important to her. Anybody who focused on that (had) done their homework. We believe Nija Canady is the Shohei Ohtani of women’s softball, and everyone will see that this year.”
The decision to allow Canady to be a two-way player has worked in the Red Raiders’ favor. In her first season as a two-way hitter, Canady’s pitching arm has not slowed down in the circle. She has also had success with a .309 batting average with eight home runs and 30 RBIs.
NiJaree Canady stats
Here’s a look at Canady’s pitching stats through three collegiate seasons at Stanford and Texas Tech:
And here’s a look at Canady’s hitting stats through three collegiate seasons at Stanford and Texas Tech:
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Why did NiJaree Canady transfer to Texas Tech from Stanford? What to know
Reporting by Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
